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Rating Index Rating
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3.5
1155 Reviews (1155)
5 Stars
166
4 Stars
251
3 Stars
338
2 Stars
194
1 Stars
206
Conditions
3.1
Value
3.9
Layout
3.6
Friendliness
4.4
Pace
3.8
Amenities
3.5
70.4%
Recommend this course
673 out of 1155 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
3.7
40 Reviews (40)
5 Stars
10
4 Stars
19
3 Stars
3
2 Stars
5
1 Stars
3
Conditions
3.4
Value
4.3
Layout
3.6
Pace
3.7
Amenities
3.6
StaffFriendliness
4.5
85.0%
Recommend this course
34 out of 40 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
3.8
110 Reviews (110)
5 Stars
40
4 Stars
33
3 Stars
15
2 Stars
15
1 Stars
7
Conditions
3.4
Value
4.2
Layout
3.8
Pace
4.0
Amenities
3.8
StaffFriendliness
4.5
79.1%
Recommend this course
87 out of 110 reviews
Read Reviews
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AI summaries based on real golfer reviews
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Course Highlights
The consistently friendly and helpful staff stand out as a genuine highlight at Willowick Golf Course. Exceptional value for money and a forgiving open layout make it a rewarding choice for golfers of all skill levels.

About

Holes 18
Type Public
Par 71
Length 6061 yards
Slope 110
Rating 67.7

Opened in 1929, Willowick Golf Course in Santa Ana is Orange County's oldest public golf course. It is a challenging layout that has garnered a quite a following over the years. The course features wide fairways and large greens that offer ample room. There aren’t any water hazards a few strategically placed sand traps come into play and there are also mature trees lining the fairways. Golfers will get to practice a variety of different shots on this course. It is player-friendly enough for high-handicappers but there are still some challenges for low handicappers. The excellent condition of the greens and fairways are inviting no matter what your skill level. In addition to the golf course, Willowick also offers a grass driving range and three practice putting greens.

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Willowick Golf Course
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Course Details

Year Built 1929
Golf Season Year round
Architect William P. Bell (1929)

Rentals/Services

Carts Yes
Pull-carts Yes
Clubs Yes

Practice/Instruction

Driving Range Yes
Golf School/Academy Yes
Teaching Pro Yes
Putting Green Yes

Policies

Credit Cards Accepted VISA, MasterCard Welcomed
Metal Spikes Allowed No
Walking Allowed Yes
Dress code Casual

Food & Beverage

Bar, Snacks, Restaurant
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Reviews

3.5
1155 Reviews (1155)

What Golfers Are Saying

The 19th Hole is Great For:
Drinks 16
Brunch 7
19th Hole Specials 6
Course Challenges Include:
Bunkers 19
Undulating Greens 8
This course/club is great for:
Walkers 20
Locals 19
Beginners 17
This Course's Location is:
Convenient to the City 20

Numbers based on reviews tagged with attribute.

Advanced Filters
Overall Rating
Recommended
Handicap
Age
Type of Golfer
Gender
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Average
Value Excellent
Layout Average
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Amenities Poor
Played On
Reviews 27
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
3.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Conditions Average
Value Average
Layout Average
Friendliness Good
Pace Average
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
2.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Do Not Play Here!!!!

One of the worst maintained courses I’ve ever played. You can’t tell the difference between the fairways and rough or even the tee boxes for that matter.

Looks like it hasn’t been mowed in a week.

No fairway yardage markers of any kind.

Carts are old and cart paths are almost non-existent.

You will feel like you have been hit by a train by the 18th hole from the beating you take in the cart over the incredibly bumpy terrain you are forced to drive on.

Not to keep pilling on but there are no concessions at this course. No food- No Drinks- No 19th hole.

Willowick is the definition on a goat track.

Conditions Poor
Value Average
Layout Average
Friendliness Fair
Pace Average
Amenities Poor
Played On
Reviews 5
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
1.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Poor
Value Average
Layout Average
Friendliness Average
Pace Poor
Amenities Poor
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
2.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

It ain't Augusta National

What did you expect for 15 bucks? The course has been taken over by gophers. The greens were sanded and punched. No mention on Golfnow "hotdeals". Surprisingly there were a lot of people out there. I was told the course has been sold and they are making a housing development which is good because the course is not being maintained very well. The fairways are patchy with patches of thick rough that loves to eat golf balls. One highlight was a very large hawk that was trying his best to control the gopher population, but he couldn't eat any more.

Conditions Poor
Value Fair
Layout Fair
Friendliness Fair
Pace Good
Amenities Poor
Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
1.0
Previously Played

Save your money.

Golf now had an aerification alert, I thought ok I can putt on sand. When I got to the course there was a hand written sign saying back 9 only. I went around once and the pace was okay, I got back to number 10 and there were 13 carts in line. Ended up skipping 3 holes. The fairways are non existent they are either long grass or mud. There are 3 homeless camps on the back 9, Management doesn’t seem to care about the homeless being there. There was also a group of about 15 teenagers walking around on the course with no clubs. Maybe it is a good thing this course is set to close..

Conditions Poor
Value Poor
Layout Fair
Friendliness Fair
Pace Poor
Amenities Poor
Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
1.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Not the same.

Pace of play was extra extra extra slow. Conditions were bad. And back 9 holes were closed.

Conditions Poor
Value Average
Layout Average
Friendliness Poor
Pace Poor
Amenities Fair
Played On
Reviews 3
Handicap 15-19
Skill Beginner
Plays A few times a week
2.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Fair
Value Average
Layout Average
Friendliness Average
Pace Poor
Amenities Poor
Played On
Reviews 3
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
2.0
First Time Playing

homeless people living throughout course

fairways and tee boxes need better maintenance

Conditions Average
Value Fair
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Fair
Amenities Fair
Played On
Reviews 31
Handicap Don't know
Skill Beginner
Plays Once a week
2.0
First Time Playing
Windy weather
Used cart

It was a terrible course

It literally means that "terrible", and I wouldn't recommend it to anyone.

Conditions Fair
Value Average
Layout Average
Friendliness Fair
Pace Average
Amenities Average
Difficulty Fairly Easy
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Beginner
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart
Conditions Average
Value Good
Layout Average
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Poor
Difficulty Fairly Easy
Played On
Reviews 7
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
3.0
First Time Playing
Conditions Fair
Value Good
Layout Average
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Fair
Played On
Reviews 1
Handicap 15-19
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
2.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart

Fair to Poor

The greens are in pretty good shape, but the fairways are in terrible shape

Conditions Poor
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Fair
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 1
3.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Fair
Value Average
Layout Average
Friendliness Good
Pace Average
Amenities Poor
Played On
Reviews 5
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
1.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Perfect weather
Used cart

Below Average

Course was poorly maintained. Fairways had clumps of grass and flowers as well as bare patches. Missing signs to indicate which hole. Bathrooms chained closed. Homeless living on Hole 16.

Conditions Poor
Value Fair
Layout Fair
Friendliness Average
Pace Average
Difficulty Fairly Easy
Played On
Reviews 16
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
2.0
First Time Playing

Rough....

I took a client here for a round and thankfully the client knew the course was know for poor conditions and didnt mind. Very poor maintenance to this place. I am not a snob and understand times are hard from a business standpoint but the fairways could be mowed at least and greens be in decent condition. I dont see myself dropping $50+ a person for this again....

Conditions Poor
Value Fair
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 51
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Fair
Value Average
Layout Average
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
1.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Bad Conditions

There wasn't one fairway in good condition. The greens were in fair condition. One of the holes was missing a flagstick. The $51 rate is not worth it right now. Snack bar was closed. Even the bathroom wasn't up to par. No soap or paper towels. Which is not good, since I checked before teeing off, at the turn and after the round. They either need more staff or close it down and make upgrades until its worth paying $51 a round.

Conditions Poor
Value Poor
Layout Poor
Friendliness Poor
Pace Average
Amenities Poor
Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
1.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Course needs help

Will not play here again unless they improve the course. This course in not that great when it is in good condition but right now it is horrible.

Conditions Poor
Value Fair
Layout Fair
Friendliness Average
Pace Fair
Amenities Poor
Played On
Reviews 3
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
1.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Perfect weather
Used cart
Conditions Poor
Value Fair
Layout Poor
Friendliness Good
Pace Poor
Amenities Poor
Difficulty Moderate
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